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TV plus internet equals love (and savings)

Savan Thongvanh — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:37:15 +0000

Today I was forward a news story from Yahoo News about the up and coming trend of leaving the cable tv world (and bill) behind and doing strictly online for content. This might not be for you but I’ve been doing this for about a year and and I’ll describe our setup for you to possibly help you in your decision.

As I said We’ve been doing this for many months now. Our cable bill went from almost $150/mo to about $60/mo. The entertainment package, after some tweaking, ended up being internet($60/month) + netflix($10+$2 for blueray subscription) (+redbox if we REALLY have to have a movie). Still our tv centric entertainment cost is 1/2 what it was before. Also, we do everything described here on a 12mb down connection.

How did we accomplish this feat you ask?

Well, we have three TVs. We have TVs in our living room (aka main tv), bedroom, and our downstairs living room. Our bedroom and the downstairs are just using the over the air HD and standard definition channels. It’s about 40 channels of broadcast tv and public access, mostly junk but isn’t cable the same?

On the living room tv we have a computer, in our case a MacMini, hooked up to the tv via DVI (computer) to HDMI (tv). This affords us all the standard channels plus the unbridled internet for content. We of course have our blueray player hooked up there too.

Downstairs we have an XBox 360 that also is an access point for netflix if we choose to watch downstairs. But, then again we rarely watch tv down there.

In our bedroom we basically just watch news before bed and in the morning so broadcast channels are ok in there. Sometimes if we really want to watch a particular program before bed we’ll grab a laptop and a beer or glass of wine and watch it on there.

An additional perk is that our cable provider gets us access to espn3.com which is streaming sports. I believe most major providers get you this access. It lets you watch an insane amount of sports live and post humus, like, EVERY, SINGLE, World Cup match and EVERY, SINGLE, Wimbledon match, or golf, or basically anything espn or abc sports.

I listen to 2+ hrs of npr broadcasts per day, NYT front page headlines, and about 45 minutes of AC360 podcast (which is just the show distributed online after the fact). I also listen to 2 or 3 hours of tech specific news broadcasts. I get plenty of news. This doesn’t really speak to online tv watching but moreso to a tv alternative for news.

For baseball fans for $35 a year you can get the premium subscription to mlb.tv, you probably already know about this. But, for fans of other sports there are similar options, all of which will probably keep your monthly bill lower than it is now.

Don’t even get me started on boxee and hulu…

I can’t promote the act but I also hear that there are ways to get any episode of pretty much any show online. Try searching watching tv online on lifehacker. Your mileage may vary in terms of video quality for this option but such is life.

If there are *must have* cable shows well, then you’re stuck but needless to say, I’m a proponent of ditching cable tv and going online for content.

Have you done it? What’s your setup? Anyone waiting for Google TV??

Google removes censorship from searches in China

Savan Thongvanh — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:17:53 +0000

Yesterday Google announced that they’d be removing any form of censorship from searches in China. Since Google has been in the China they’ve always bowed to the will of the Chinese government and filtered search results. Censor no more. Chinese Googlers will now be redirected from Google.cn to Google.hk

After an attack on January 12 of this year on Google and others, Google got furious because the attacks seemed like they were executed by the Chinese government. Google then started to flame the Chinese government’s interpretations of free speech, or lack thereof. It’s common knowledge that China blocks sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others.

Amazingly Google acknowledge in a blog post that opening up the Red Filter was so popular among the Chinese that it may affect the performance of Google for other users.

Here’s what Google said about their rationale:

Figuring out how to make good on our promise to stop censoring search on Google.cn has been hard. We want as many people in the world as possible to have access to our services, including users in mainland China, yet the Chinese government has been crystal clear throughout our discussions that self-censorship is a non-negotiable legal requirement. We believe this new approach of providing uncensored search in simplified Chinese from Google.com.hk is a sensible solution to the challenges we’ve faced—it’s entirely legal and will meaningfully increase access to information for people in China. We very much hope that the Chinese government respects our decision, though we are well aware that it could at any time block access to our services. We will therefore be carefully monitoring access issues, and have created this new web page, which we will update regularly each day, so that everyone can see which Google services are available in China.

Way to go Google and way to go Chinese Googlers

HTC Fires off a statement rebuking Apples lawsuits

Savan Thongvanh — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:44:27 +0000

Today HTC Fired off a statement rebuking Apples lawsuits and pointing out all the ways in the last ten years that they’ve brought innovation to the mobile arena. Here’s the statement from HTC.

Seattle – March 17, 2010 – HTC Corporation today outlined its disagreement with Apple’s legal actions and reiterated its commitment to creating a portfolio of innovative smartphones that gives consumers a variety of choices. Founded in 1997 with a passion for innovation and a vision for how smartphones would change people’s lives, HTC has continually driven this vision by consistently introducing award-winning smartphones with U.S. mobile operators.

“HTC disagrees with Apple’s actions and will fully defend itself. HTC strongly advocates intellectual property protection and will continue to respect other innovators and their technologies as we have always done, but we will continue to embrace competition through our own innovation as a healthy way for consumers to get the best mobile experience possible,” said Peter Chou, chief executive officer, HTC Corporation. “From day one, HTC has focused on creating cutting-edge innovations that deliver unique value for people looking for a smartphone. In 1999 we started designing the XDAi and T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Editionii, our first touch-screen smartphones, and they both shipped in 2002 with more than 50 additional HTC smartphone models shipping since then.”

The industry has recognized HTC’s contributions through a variety of awards including Fast Company’s 2010 Top 50 Most Innovative Companies and MIT Technology Review’s 2010 50 Most Innovative Companies. The GSMA also recently awarded the HTC Hero as the “Best Phone of 2009.” Some of HTC’s technology firsts include:

* First Windows PDA (1998)
* First Windows Phone (June 2002)
* First 3G CDMA EVDO smartphone (October 2005)
* First gesture-based smartphone (June 2007)
* First Google Android smartphone (October 2008)
* First 4G WIMAX smartphone (November 2008)

In 2009, HTC launched its branded user experience, HTC Sense. HTC Sense is focused on putting people at the center by making phones work in a more simple and natural way. This experience was fundamentally based on listening and observing how people live and communicate.

“HTC has always taken a partnership-oriented, collaborative approach to business. This has led to long-standing strategic partnerships with the top software, Internet and wireless technology companies in the industry as well as the top U.S., European and Asian mobile operators,” said Jason Mackenzie, vice president of HTC America. “It is through these relationships that we have been able to deliver the world’s most diverse series of smartphones to an even more diverse group of people around the world, recognizing that customers have very different needs.”

For more information on HTC’s history of innovation, please visit: www.htc.com/history.

About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

HTC Public Relations
htcpr@waggeneredstrom.com
(425) 638-7000

i The O2 XDA by HTC was the first 3.5-inch color touch screen smartphone in the world in 2002.

ii The T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition by HTC was the first 3.5-inch color touch screen smartphone in the United States in 2002.
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Intel Applauds FCC’s National Broadband Plan

Savan Thongvanh — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:26:48 +0000

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 16, 2010 – Intel Corporation today commended FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and the FCC broadband team for delivering a meaningful and ambitious plan for U.S. leadership in broadband. The National Broadband Plan, released today, has the potential to help create jobs and spur economic growth, unleash new waves of innovation and investment, improve education and health care, and enhance the vibrancy of our democracy.

“We believe in the transformative potential of widespread, high-quality, affordable broadband,” said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini. “To lead in competitiveness, innovation and job creation in the 21st century, our country must plan ahead. This means investing in next-generation wireless and wireline infrastructure, increasing home broadband adoption, and enabling commercial spectrum to flow to uses that the market values most.”

Intel applauded many elements of the plan, including its recommendations to free an additional 500 MHz of spectrum for wireless broadband over the next 10 years and transition the Universal Service Fund to broadband, as well as its goal of 90 percent home broadband adoption by 2020.

“The National Broadband Plan provides a vision in which broadband expands opportunities for all Americans and harnesses the social and economic opportunities of the digital age,” said Otellini. “We look forward to working with the FCC in helping to ensure the long-term competitiveness and prosperity of our nation.”

About Intel
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.

Intel is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

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Sprint and Verizon come out in support of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan

Savan Thongvanh — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:04:05 +0000

This week Sprint and Verizon both came out with statements supporting the newly annouced National Broadband Plan. The plan outlines six goals for America’s internet. To find out more about the plan you can visit http://www.broadband.gov/ but here are some highlights:

The Goals

Goal 1: At least 100 million U.S. homes should have affordable access to actual download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and actual upload speeds of at least 50 megabits per second.
Goal 2: The United States should lead the world in mobile innovation, with the fastest and most extensive wireless networks of any nation.
Goal 3: Every American should have affordable access to robust broadband service, and the means and skills to subscribe if they so choose.
Goal 4: Every community should have affordable access to at least 1 Gbps broadband service to anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals and government buildings.
Goal 5: To ensure the safety of Americans, every first responder should have access to a nationwide public safety wireless network.
Goal 6: To ensure that America leads in the clean energy economy, every American should be able to use broadband to track and manage their real-time energy consumption.

The site also hosts a coule of useful tools, one being a broadband speed test (http://www.broadband.gov/qualitytest/?TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=470&qt=true) and the other is a form people can use to report “Broadband Dead Zones”. By using the form you can put your address in the national Broadband Dead Zone Registry. The registry will be used to track and point underserved areas.

Sprint and Verizon were both quick to make statements.

From Sprint:

“With the release of the National Broadband Plan, the FCC gave America a roadmap to a better broadband future. Sprint applauds Chairman Genachowski, his fellow Commissioners, and staff at the FCC for producing a comprehensive set of recommendations designed to expand the availability of high speed affordable broadband across the U.S.,” said Vonya B. McCann, senior vice president, Government Affairs, Sprint.

“At Sprint, we share many of the FCC’s goals as outlined in the plan. Over the next several days, we will be reviewing the plan’s specific recommendations and look forward to working with the FCC and Congress to expand affordable high-performance broadband services,” McCann continued.

From Verizon:

“Verizon strongly supports the emphasis in the National Broadband Plan on the deployment of broadband facilities and adoption by all Americans. To that end, we are encouraged by the call to reform the policies that subsidize some companies’ telecommunications services so the policies are focused on the technologies of the 21st century. The plan also properly focuses on identifying the barriers to swift deployment and adoption and proposing recommendations to remove or overcome those barriers.

“The plan correctly notes that government is a major purchaser of services and can be a catalyst for using broadband to reform the health care delivery system, improve energy conservation, preserve the environment, and promote the use of broadband technology to advance education.

Read the Broadband Plan here http://www.broadband.gov/
More from Sprint http://newsreleases.sprint.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=127149&p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=1402871
More from Verizon http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2010/verizon-statement-on-fccs.html

Indian Premier League (IPL) match Chargers vs Riders on YouTube

Savan Thongvanh — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:42:31 +0000

Google will be showing this year’s Indian Premier League season on YouTube. The first match tonight will be the Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai at 8pm IST.

Cricket is one of, if the the most popular sport in the world. And, The IPL season is onf of the biggest cricket events around. How can a sport not be popular when it has terms like “five-fers”, the “flippers and floaters”, the “half-yorkers”, slow sweeps, and googly. Just like your favorite sports channel the YouTube IPL channel has three main sections:

Today’s Matches: This is where you can watch streamed matches as they happen. (Note that the stream will be delayed by a few minutes.) Click through at any time to see the match scorecard.
Recent Matches: Catch up any time on the full action of matches that have already happened. Watch Sachin cream the ball through the covers, Warney taking his latest wicket and more.
Highlights: If you’re short on time, check in here for short videos of player interviews, match highlights, greatest plays and more.

Of course you can also get social with it by using the on page twitter gadget or just use the tag #youtube_ipl

AMD Sponsors Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Game Design Category

Savan Thongvanh — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:02:00 +0000

AMD Foundation to Sponsor Video Game Design Category for The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Game development serves as tool to promote STEM education, social issues

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — 3/10/2010 – AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the AMD Foundation, in support of AMD Changing the Game, has awarded a grant to the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. The $65,000 grant will be used to help fund the Alliance’s new video game design category for the 2010 and 2011 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers is a nonprofit organization that runs The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the most prestigious and longest-running competition in the United States recognizing teenagers’ intellectual creativity, innovation and artistic talent. Through this competition, scholarships and other activities, the Alliance annually reaches more than three million students in seventh through 12th grades, and 400,000 Art and English teachers. Including the new video game design category in the competition increases the reach of the program to math and science teachers and presents video game production as an art form requiring imagination, technical skill, planning and storytelling.

AMD’s partnership with the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers will help to significantly broaden the reach of the AMD Changing the Game signature education initiative to its target audience. The AMD program is designed to promote the use of youth game development as a tool to inspire learning and improve science, technology, education and math (STEM) skills.

“The Alliance’s addition of a video game design category to its annual competition validates the growth of game design as a creative learning tool for teens,” said Allyson Peerman, President, AMD Foundation. “Digital gaming is the universal language of teens, and teaching them in that language can result in more engaged and better prepared students.”

“The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have always represented the cutting edge of student creativity,” said Virginia McEnerney, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. “That tradition is well-represented with the addition of the video game design category.”

During its 87-year history, The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has recognized more than nine million creative teenagers, including Andy Warhol, Robert Redford and Sylvia Plath. For the 2011 program year, the Alliance anticipates receiving 700 student submissions for the video game design category. The AMD Foundation grant also will help the Alliance host game design workshops and help fund cash awards and summer program scholarships for students. Each year top video game submissions will be showcased online.

“The ability to design computer and video games taps into a deep-seated passion for today’s youth and fosters critical 21st Century skills such as creativity, collaboration and critical thinking,” said Alan Gershenfeld, Chairman, Games4Change. “The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards video game design competition is a phenomenal outlet to spotlight teens’ passion and talent for shaping this powerful new medium. I tip my hat to the AMD Foundation for recognizing that when kids are motivated to learn they can move mountains.”

AMD Changing the Game

AMD Changing the Game is designed to take gaming beyond entertainment and inspire youth to learn critical education and life skills by equipping them to create digital games with social content. The program’s purpose is to promote the use of youth game development as a tool to inspire learning and improve science, technology, education and math (STEM) skills. The initiative is rooted in AMD’s commitment to and experience
in supporting education, and the company’s passion and expertise in the graphics processor and gaming industries.

Since its launch in June 2008, AMD Changing the Game has:

Funded 13 organizations that enable youth game development
Funded the development of a youth game development curriculum with PETLab and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Earlier in 2010, BGCA chapters in Larimer County, Colorado and Marlborough, Massachusetts kicked off new “Game Tech” programs that teach club members how to understand game design and create their own games.
Co-sponsored the Malaysian Cybergames Festival 2010, including the “Dare to Create” digital game design and development workshop
Co-sponsored the 2008 and 2009 Games for Change Festival
Funded an online toolkit to help nonprofits create games on social issues
Sponsored a video contest exploring the intersection of education and gaming

About the AMD Foundation

The AMD Foundation connects and empowers individuals with knowledge, thereby opening doors to opportunity. The Foundation’s signature program, AMD Changing the Game, supports initiatives designed to help youth harness the power of digital games with social content, while learning critical Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills and life skills. The Foundation also funds the AMD Employee Giving Program which supports AMD employees’ community interests by matching their personal donations of time and money to local organizations and schools.

Supporting Resources

About AMD

Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and technology partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com
AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact Information

Catherine Greenlaw
AMD Public Relations
512-602-2292
catherine.greenlaw@amd.com

Source: amd.com

Bike trails now available on Google Maps

Savan Thongvanh — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:02:02 +0000

Google announces today on their blog they bike trails are available on Google Maps. When you search for directions now on Google Maps you’ll have an option in addition to driving, public transportation, and walking. You can chose to map the route by bicycle.

Google has been sitting on this feature waiting for it to evolve. They’ve built the features with the support and cooperation of sites like Googl Maps Bike There and Rails to Trails contributing to the information.

Here is some key information when you’re reading the maps:

Routes avoid hills!
Dark green indicates a dedicated bike-only trail
Light green indicates a dedicated bike lane along a road
Dashed green indicates roads that are designated as preferred for bicycling, but without dedicated lanes

This is great news for the bicycling community and Google Map greenies! Head over to http://maps.google.com/biking and check it out. Find your way to work today!

AT&T offers a trip to the Final Four by texting keywords

Savan Thongvanh — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:16:22 +0000

Between now and March 9th AT&T customers can win a free trip to the Final Four. Customers can win the trip by texting the keyword for the participating school to 51234. Pitt and OSU fans will use 94253.

Your text will enter you in the contest and sign you up for scores an updates for the respective team. Not all schools are participating. See the table below from the AT&T announcement for keywords and text the keyword to 51234 or for Pitt and OSU fans text it to 94253.

Good Luck!

More details from AT&T

School	Keyword	School	Keyword
Alabama	TIDE	Ohio State	OSU
Arkansas	HOGS	Ole Miss	REBELS
Arizona State	DEVILS	Oklahoma	SOONERS
Boston College	EAGLES	Penn State	LIONS
Cal	BEARS	Pittsburgh	PITT
Connecticut	HUSKIES	Syracuse	ORANGE
Georgia	DAWGS	Texas	HORNS
Georgia Tech	GTECH	Texas Tech	RAIDERS
Kansas	JAYHAWKS	USC	TROJANS
Louisville	CARDS	Utah	UTES
Michigan	GOBLUE	Wisconsin	BADGERS

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EPA says Panasonic is officially it’s green buddy for 2010

Savan Thongvanh — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:22:55 +0000

EPA NAMES PANASONIC HOME & ENVIRONMENT COMPANY2010 ENERGY STAR® PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Panasonic earns award for protecting the environment through manufacturing energy-efficient products.

Secaucus, NJ (March 1, 2010) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Panasonic Home & Environment Company as a 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturing energy-efficient products and helping to educate consumers about those products. Panasonic’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010. Panasonic Home & Environment Company (http://www.panasonic.com/ventfans), an ENERGY STAR partner since 2001, will be honored for its leadership in manufacturing products that earn the ENERGY STAR rating, the government-backed symbol of energy efficiency. With the highest efficacy (up to 10.1 cubic feet per minute/Watt) of any of the ventilation fan ENERGY STAR partners, Panasonic continues to exceed standards with its entire ventilation fan line where guidelines exist.

“Panasonic is honored to be named an ENERGY STAR partner for 2010 because it validates our efforts related to energy efficiency,” said Anita So, Marketing Manager, Panasonic Home & Environment Company. “The award not only acknowledges our energy-saving ventilation fans and their role in preserving indoor air quality cost-effectively, but it also recognizes our commitment to educating both industry professionals and consumers on the importance of sustainability.”

Last year alone Americans with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $17 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million vehicles.

The 2010 Partner of the Year Awards are given to manufacturers and retailers that successfully promote and deliver ENERGY STAR qualified products, saving consumers money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

“Today, EPA is recognizing Panasonic for taking the lead in addressing climate change through their commitment to energy efficiency,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. “Panasonic is producing and promoting products that have earned the ENERGY STAR, showing customers that together, we can increase our nation’s energy efficiency and reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases.”

About Panasonic Home & Environment Company

Panasonic Home & Environment Company, a division of Panasonic Home & Health Company, which is a unit company of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and is the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. The company has a full line of ventilation fans featuring models for nearly every type of home-building need. All Panasonic ventilation fans are ENERGY STARÒ qualified where guidelines exist. Panasonic is a leader in developing and marketing the most comprehensive lineup of energy-efficient consumer electronics, information technology products, home appliances, and HVAC products, and continues to set the pace for consumer electronics manufacturers.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 17,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

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Editorial Contacts: Beth Crisafi, (212) 697-2600 bcrisafi@gibbs-soell.com

MeeJin Annan-Brady, (201) 392-6124 annan-bradym@us.panasonic.com

Maria Vargas, (202) 343-9178 vargas.maria@epa.gov

Source: Panasonic